Should a pastor be a "father-figure"?

[Joseph Gill]

The concept of a pastor as a spiritual father
is implied by Paul's use of the term "father"
to describe his relationship with the churches he
founded.

For instance, I love how he spoke to the Corinthian
church:



"I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. For though ye have ten
thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye
not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten
you through the gospel. Wherefore I beseech you, be
ye followers of me." [1 Cor. 4:14-16]


"Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not
yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay
up for the parents, but the parents for the children."
[2 Cor. 12:14]



And he told the Thessalonians:
"Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly
and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that
believe: As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and
charged every one of you, as a father doth his
children, that ye would walk worthy of God, who hath
called you unto his kingdom and glory." [1 Thess.
2:10-12]



It's passages like these that make me ask whether a pastor should be a father-figure.

[A.W. Bowman]

Although we frequently do, one should never, ever confuse a pastor (shepherd, local elder, teacher) with a called Apostle, the likes of Paul. He did the job and paid the dues - none of us have.

[Joseph Gill]

In his two-year stays in Corinth and Ephesus, nurturing the churches he founded in both cities, Paul was certainly acting like a pastor. I think that is why his paternal imagery in the epistles is applicable to modern pastors.

[Evangelist Altha Fugett]

To answer the question, I have had the same pastor, since I was 16 years old, he is as a Spiritual Father, however there are other Spiritual Coverings in my life that protect me from putting him on a pedestal, one being the blood of Jesus and one being my husband.

With any Father that is wrapped in flesh, with the inclusion of Paul, if one looked upon him in this position, there is a tendency to rebel against them no matter how minute the rebellion might be, just as children in the natural home will come to a point in their lives where they will challenge the authoriative figure in their lives, and then learn or relearn for themselves.

Pastors are to be spiritual leaders, and because many have neglected their duties in some way form or fashion as Fathers, pastors become this figure to those that lacked it in their lives. It's a great responsibility